The Mass has been called the highest form of prayer.
The First Mass was the Last Supper, celebrated by Jesus for His Apostles on the original Holy Thursday. The night before His Passion, Jesus Consecrated the Bread and Wine into His Most Precious Body and Blood, an action repeated in every Catholic Mass.
Catholics are obligated, under penalty of grave sin, to attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation, except in certain cases, such as sufficient illness or the need to care for a sick child.
Some major parts of the Mass include the Liturgy of the Word the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The Liturgy of the Word features the Gospel, along with other Scripture Readings and a Responsorial Psalm. The Gospel is followed by the Homily by a Priest or Deacon.
During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the Priest Celebrant, acting as an Instrument of Christ, Consecrates the Bread and Wine into the Eucharist, the Precious Body and Blood of Christ, Holy Communion.
There are several forms of the Catholic Mass.
The Novus Ordo is the modern form often celebrated in the vernacular, i.e., the local language, since Vatican II. Although in some instances the Novus Ordo is celebrated in Latin.
The traditional Latin Mass is the Tridentine Latin Mass, that is not only in Latin, but also a slightly different set of prayers, while some major prayers are similar to what is used in the Novus Ordo. There also are slightly different forms of the Tridentine Latin Mass.
In addition, Eastern Rite Catholics, who are under the Pope, yet a different Rite from what are commonly referred to as Roman Catholics, celebrate various forms of the Divine Liturgy. A Divine Liturgy “counts” as a Catholic Mass, and Roman Catholics may also meet their “Sunday Obligation” by attending an Eastern Rite Catholic Divine Liturgy. Some examples of Eastern Rite Catholics include Maronite Catholics, Melkite Catholics, Ukrainian Catholics and Ruthenian Catholics.
LINKS & RESOURCES
Find a Mass
Order of Mass
TV Mass
- VIDEO: Daily Mass – Toronto
- VIDEO: Daily Mass – Boston/Catholic TV
- VIDEO: Sunday Mass – Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
- VIDEO: Sunday Mass — Passionists (New York)
- VIDEO: Sunday Mass – University of Notre Dame
- VIDEO: Diocese of Sioux Falls (includes Sunday Mass)
Homilies or Commentaries
- Homilies: Saint Vincent Archabbey (Benedictines)
- Archdiocese of Washington Blog (including homily commentaries)
- Homilies: Saint Anselm’s Abbey
- St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology – including reflections on Sunday Mass Readings
- DailyGospel.org – including Gospel Mass Readings and commentaries, some ancient or historical
